Y: THE LAST MAN #21 REVIEW

[Scott Williams]

<a href=http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0404/YtheLastManINT21.jpg target=new><img src=http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/previews/dc/0404/YtheLastManINT21t.jpg align=left></a>Reviewer: Scott Williams, yoda905@yahoo.com
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Widow’s Pass, part 1 of Three

Our heroes have highway troubles, so to speak.

Written by: Brian K. Vaughan
Pencils: Goran Parlov
Inks: Jose Marzan, Jr.
Letters: Clem Robins
Colors & Separation: Zylonol
Cover Artist: Aron Wisenfeld
Assistant Editor: Casey Seijas
Editor: Will Dennis

Apparently, before blowing up the Murrah building in Oklahoma, Bomber Timothy McVeigh had plans to somehow take out the U.S. Highway system, and actualizing this plot brings us into the latest story of Y: The Lasy Man. Out trio of heroes, aided by a garage-owning bald woman named P.J. (it's for practical purposes,) are more or less stalled from crossing into California as originally planned, thanks to the machinations of the ironically-named organization "Sons of Arizona." Following a crypic introduction to this group in the opening pages, we are given a bit of background information filled in later. The plot to this issue is a very good and convincing obstacle, the latest in a series of well-considered conflicts scattered throught the book's nearly-two-year-yet run. Brian K. Vaughan shows his worth as a franchise player by continually forging such convincing set-ups to his stories, this being but another example, though not quite the point of perfection. While it is another example of his greatness, it does not come without flaws.

The biggest flaw in this individual issue is that while it is built on a rock-solid premise, there is much exposition involved. One of the most resented necessities of exposition, almost every story ever written would be poorer without it for sure, but it's still no fun. Thankfully, thanks largely to BKV's excellent sense of dialogue (like a literatti's Kevin Smith,) it's not completely without merits. Words like "****wad" work their way into explanations, and Dr. Mann and 355 sidetrack the conversation to talk in a dialect familiar mostly to Grade School girls ("You told me it was Chinese!" says Yorick.)

I'm interested to see that once again they managed to find an artist whose style emulated, though is not identical to regular series artist Pia Guerra's. It's not close enough as to give the same effect as if Guerra probably had drawn the story, but it's still not a jarring experience that will bother most readers. Compared to previous issues you can really see Jose Marzan Jr. and Zylonol's contributions to giving the book its uniform look.

Probably the funniest/weirdest/most enjoyable scene yet to be seen in the series altogether is Yorick's latest dream sequence, which sees him playing Conan, rescuing his lady love Beth (dressed in Princess Leia slave-girl attire) from Ray Harryhausen-esque skeletons, only to be ripped to shreds by a Wampa. (Except it's not a Wampa, because then they'd owe George Lucas a lot of money.) Also noteworthy are a reference to Director David Lynch, meditations on the state of the animal kingdom, and above all, some bizarre inconstencies in Dr. Mann's story about her clone baby. (How could it be a clone if it was supposedly a boy?)

This issue well-lays the foundation for the rest of the arc, ending with a superb cliffhanger that leaves Dr. Mann's character suspect. I presume that the "Widow's Pass" story might jumpstart the book into some new territory, involving maybe some more character-driven stories for the others, specifically Dr. Mann. I really like where this story is going, if I wasn't completely impressed with the issue itself.

STORY:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/yfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/yfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/yfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/yhalf.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ynone.jpg

ART:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/yfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/yfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/yfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ynone.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ynone.jpg

OVERALL:
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/yfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/yfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/yfull.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/yhalf.jpg http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/reviews/ynone.jpg

<a href=http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=158&cat=Y+%2D+THE+LAST+MAN+>Buy this Issue Online from X-World and Save!</a>

[GilSpiderig]

Even though it is a new story arc, it almost felt like a filler...The first one I have ever seen in this comic. To go 21 issues, before actually ever having a filler is a great thing.

[gambitX]

I think this comic book should have ended a while ago...
i really enjoy it but I really want to see what happens at the end.

[Wheeze]

Not alot going on in this issue, but still solid. Look forward to next month!

[Stephanie Kay]

It was a good issue- I think I'm still recovering from the last issue, so it doesn't really bother me that it was more of a ''directing'' issue.

I also really liked how Dr Mann is becoming centralised for this arc- she's been in the comic since the beginning so it's cool to see her reveal her thoughts more. And she's great when she's angry :D

I'll sound like a real moaner but I haven't seen another artist do ''Pia-esque'' art as good as Pia. It's not the same when she's not doing the art. Small grumble.

[Dan Porter]

Last story arc was so good... this weeks comics haven't shipped to my local shop :mad: - ANY of them - so I haven't read this new ish of Y yet.

The only issues I though were filler was the two-parter with the actresses. I think it's cool, though, that Yorick & Co. are slowly making their way across the country. In #1 they were on the east coast. 2nd arc was in Ohio (I think), and the 3rd arc was in... Missouri? I forget. Next was "Safeword," in the Rockies, and now "Widow's Pass," which takes place... where?

At least they're making progress.

-DPorter

[Scott Williams]

Originally posted by gambitX
I think this comic book should have ended a while ago...
i really enjoy it but I really want to see what happens at the end.


That sounds like a unique complaint... more of a compliment, really.

Originally posted by Dan Porter
Last story arc was so good... this weeks comics haven't shipped to my local shop :mad: - ANY of them - so I haven't read this new ish of Y yet.

The only issues I though were filler was the two-parter with the actresses. I think it's cool, though, that Yorick &amp; Co. are slowly making their way across the country. In #1 they were on the east coast. 2nd arc was in Ohio (I think), and the 3rd arc was in... Missouri? I forget. Next was &quot;Safeword,&quot; in the Rockies, and now &quot;Widow's Pass,&quot; which takes place... where?

At least they're making progress.

-DPorter


This one takes place in the great state of Arizona. They were detoured there from the rockies after encountering a forest fire in Utah.

I'm not 100% of my U.S. Geography but that sounds right to me.

It's much more interesting than if it were a Canadian cross-country book. The provinces are all nicely lined up east to west - so boring!

[Judiusx]

Originally posted by GilSpiderig
Even though it is a new story arc, it almost felt like a filler...The first one I have ever seen in this comic. To go 21 issues, before actually ever having a filler is a great thing.


According to Vaughan the real filler won't occur until this fall when he takes a short break and Chuck Austen and Rob Liefeld come onboard for a 3 issue arc.

[Dan Porter]

...You're kidding, right? Please tell me you're kidding.

[GilSpiderig]

SWEET GOD....CHUCK AUSTEN FOR 3 ISSUES......DAMN YOU DC, WHY WHY?! KEEP HIM IN THE SUPERMAN AREA, NOWHERE NEAR VERTIGO...........

[Judiusx]

Haha! Gotcha!

[Zach Kinkead]

Dude, that was just not cool.

[GilSpiderig]

You are a cold person Judius, Cold.......If I was not a forgiving person, you would be in a world of trouble.

[abliss]

I got hooked on this comic after reading the first trade and then bought the following issues until the end of the last story arc. Probably going to pick it up in trades again. Just hasn't kept my interest all that much the last few months. Hopefully it will be better in one big read then waiting every month.

Kinda like 100 bullets. I think i would go crazy if i had to wait a month for following issues.

[Vector]

Originally posted by Judiusx

According to Vaughan the real filler won't occur until this fall when he takes a short break and Chuck Austen and Rob Liefeld come onboard for a 3 issue arc.

:LOL: That would be awful!